Surface-cultivator.



J. w. FUNK, Jn. SURFACE GULTIVATOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19. 1911.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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To all 'whom it muy concern Be it known that l, JOHN `W. FUNK, J r., a citizen or the YUnited States, residing at Heyworth, in the county of McLean and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in SurfaceeCulti- Vaters, of which the following is a specifica` tion.

rlhis invention relates to cultivators and particularly to one designed for supplement-- ing the work of the ordinary straddle-row cultivator for treating the plants after their advanced growth when the straddle-row cultivator could not be successfully operated without injury to the plants; certain objects of the present invention being` to provide a cultivator which is capable ot being driven between the rows for eiectively exterminating the weeds and agitating the soil without greatly disturbing the mulch or moisture retaining substances contained in the soil.

Another object of the` invention is to provide a cultivator which will include means whereby the agitating cutters or hoes can be adjusted so as to govern their penetration ot' the soil and thereby avoiding destruction or injury to the roots of the plants during cultivation.

In the drawing, forming a portion of this specification and in which like numerals o reference indicate similar parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side view of the cultivator with a part in section. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of kthe cultivator. Fig. 3 is a 'front View of the cultivator with the draft appliance removed. Fig. 4c is a perspective view of the cutter standard.

The cultivator comprises a longitudinal beam or cuttersupport 1 which is provided at its forward end with a casting 2 which isV pivoted at 3 to the vertically adjustable collar 4. The arch frame 5 at the front of the cultivator comprises the substantially identically constructed superimposed arcuate members 6 and 7 which are provided with end horizontally disposed `flanges 8. Stub axles 9 are secured at 10 between the said end iianges 8, and as illustrated, these axles have suitably mounted thereon the main supporting wheels 11. Clips 12 are secured to the arch frame by the bolts 10 and are pivotally connected with the rear .ends of the draft bars 13. These draft bars are disposed in forwardly diverging relation and at their Specification of Letters Patent. ygmggnged DML 29, gjlajb Application led. September 19, 1911.

Serial No. 650,220.

points of intersection they are connected with a singletree or the likelll. i

he superimposed members 6 and 7 of the arch frame support a vertical rod 15 which is embraced by a sleeve 16. This sleeve and the rod 15 respectively Yform a brace for the `central portion of the arch frame and com- ,thereonclamping nuts 21 and 22 to engage the upper and lower sides of the beam respectively, so as to hold the caster-wheel in the required vertically adjusted position. Standards 23 are adjustable longitudinally on the beam 1. Two of such standards are shown herein and they are provided with oppositelv oliset portions 24 which hold the cutters oi the standards in dilierent planes with relation to the longitudinal axis of the machine. The standards are secured in any suitable well known manner to the guides or brackets 25 which are apertured at 2G to receive the beam. The brackets or guides are equipped with suitable devices 27 to engage the beam-so as to hold the standards in their adjusted positions relatively. T he lower ends ot the standards are Jformed to provide arms 28 to which are secured the head members 29. rl`he head members are suitably secured at 30 to the truncate triangular cornbined hoes and cutters 31, the ends of the hoes being extended beyond the ends of the heads 29 for effective contact with the ground. The arms 28 of the cutter standards extend downwardly and forwardly at an angle from the longitudinal axis oi the machine so that the cutters are angularly disposed with reference to the ground.A

By arranging the cutters as just described, their edge portions are presented Jfor citeetive cutting engagement with the weeds and they also serve to thoroughly agitate or dig the soil without materially disturbing the same with relation to the plant. rfhe latter` is extremely desirable in a machine of the character described in that to the effective cultivation of corn, it is necessary that moisture retaining substances oi the soil, such as Mmulch, be held against displacement from the plant.

i A'pulverizing rake 32 is located at the rear of the beam l. It comprises preferably a bracket arm 33 which-is pivoted at 34 to the beam. The opposite rail end of the bracket arm is secured to the rake head 35, the latter beingprovided with suitable rake teeth or tines 36 to effectively travel in the path of the cutters to thoroughly pulverize the soil. In effect, this pulverizing rake forms substantially a coverer to cover the furrows formed by the cutters. The pivotbolt 37 of the rake arm is embraced by a coil vspring 38 which has one of its terminals 39 bearing against the beam, while the other terminal 40 bears againstnthe bracket arm 33 to hold the rake teeth yielding in contact .with the soil. This spring also compensates for the adjustment of the frame vertically with respect to the surface of the ground as will be readily understood. The adjustment of theframe vertically, as described, permits ofthe cutters being adjusted for any required penetration of the soil and` provides means whereby the required cutting and agitation of 'the soil can be ob` 'tained without injury to the roots of the plants.

I claim: 1. In a cultivator, a longitudinal frame member of polygonal cross section, a collar non-rotatable and longitudinally slida'ble on said member and having a lateral extension provided with a vertical disposed polygonal bore, a standard having a normally upright central portion provided witha lower end bent to form a projecting terminal inclined to the vertical, an earth working implement adjustable on said inclined terminal, the upper portion of said standard being bent horizontally laterally of said central upright portion and at an angle to said first-` named or lower projecting terminal'and said upper horizontal portion having a vertically W. W. VHITMORE,

W. C. Hanson.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ate'nts.

Washington, D. C.

my signature 

